Cost Estimates Search

Small businesses operating in areas designated as historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones) are eligible for preferences when seeking contracts from the federal government. S. 1292 would increase the number of geographic areas that would qualify as HUBZones. Under the bill, businesses in areas that are declared a major disaster area or that suffered a catastrophic incident would be eligible for HUBZone benefits. Further, areas surrounding closed military bases would be eligible for HUBZone designation for a longer period of time.

CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1656 would increase spending subject to appropriation by less than $500,000 annually. In addition, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1656 would affect direct spending and revenues, so pay-as-you-go procedures apply, but we estimate that any such effects would be insignificant.

S. 1115 would direct federal agencies to prepare reports on their efforts to close out financial accounts for expired federal grants. Information on the USASpending website maintained by the Treasury Department indicates that the government has awarded almost $600 billion annually in grants over the past five years.

S. 1493 would increase the amounts paid to veterans for disability compensation and to their survivors for dependency and indemnity compensation by the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that recipients of Social Security receive. The increase would take effect on December 1, 2015.

H.R. 1927 would amend the federal judicial code to prohibit federal courts from certifying any proposed class unless the party seeking to maintain a class action demonstrates that each member of that class suffered an injury of the same type and degree.

S. 627 would prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from paying awards and bonuses to employees who have violated certain laws or VA policies. In addition, such employees would be required to repay any awards or bonuses received during a year in which VA makes a determination of such a violation.

S. 1082 would modify personnel processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). CBO estimates that implementing S. 1082 would have an insignificant effect on spending subject to appropriation.

Section 2 would expedite the process for VA to remove or demote employees whose performance or misconduct warrants such an action. CBO expects that the demotion or removal of those employees would have no net budgetary effect because it would result in the promotion or hiring of other employees.

H.R. 3116 would extend the authority for the Department of Commerce to conduct the quarterly financial report program through 2030. Under that program, which will expire at the end of fiscal year 2015, the Census Bureau collects and publishes statistics on the financial condition of U.S. businesses. Information from the Census Bureau indicates that the program costs about $5 million a year. Therefore, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $25 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts. Enacting H.R.

S. 1484 would amend federal laws that regulate certain financial institutions and securities markets. Specifically, the legislation would change the process and procedures that federal regulators follow for determining which firms should be designated as systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs), and it would alter a number of provisions of current law that provide protection to consumers of financial products.

H.R. 1992 would require the Department of the Interior to charge a 2 percent royalty on the value of soda ash and related sodium compounds produced on federal lands for a five-year period following enactment of the bill. Under current law, CBO expects the average royalty rate to be about 6 percent, beginning in 2016. About half of the royalties collected by the federal government are paid to the states where the minerals are produced.

S. 373 would amend the environmental standards for water that is discharged from ships and permanently exempt certain smaller vessels from those standards. Under current law, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set and enforce those standards.

H.R. 2494 would authorize the Administration to promote the efforts of foreign governments and regional entities in countering wildlife trafficking, in particular by providing technical assistance and support to park rangers and law enforcement officers. In total, and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2494 would cost $6 million over the 2016-2020 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply to this legislation because enacting the bill would affect direct spending and revenues; however, CBO estimates those effects would not be significant.

H.R. 959 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Medgar Evers House in Jackson, Mississippi, as a unit of the National Park System. Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that carrying out the proposed study would cost about $200,000. Enacting H.R. 959 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

S. 280 would establish the Federal Permitting Improvement Council to monitor and coordinate the schedules and activities of federal agencies involved in the review, approval, permitting, or planning of certain federal or nonfederal infrastructure construction projects.

H.R. 1949 would amend the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 to make the Secretary of Agriculture responsible for reviewing and approving site and design proposals for the National Liberty Memorial in Washington, D.C. Under current law, either the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator of General Services Administration will oversee the site and design approval process for that memorial, pursuant to the Commemorative Works Act.

H.R. 1138 would require federal agencies to manage 276,000 acres of federal land located in Idaho for conservation purposes. The bill also would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service to convey parcels of federal land totaling roughly 700 acres to various local governments in Idaho. Based on information provided by the affected agencies and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2016-2020 period. Because enacting H.R.

Under S. 1182, joint sales agreements (JSAs) entered into before June 19, 2014, would be exempt from provisions of a rule limiting those agreements that was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier in that year. A JSA is an agreement between one television broadcast station that sells advertising time on behalf of a competing station (the other party in the agreement) in the same market.

H.R. 1634 would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve the planning, documentation, and management of certain programs to acquire border security technology. The bill also would require DHS to submit a plan to the Congress to ensure that such programs comply with federal acquisition policies.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for ensuring that workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of airports are vetted in accordance with security-related requirements. Such vetting procedures include checks of individuals’ criminal backgrounds and immigration status as well as checks against terrorist databases. H.R.

The Congressional Budget Office is providing two estimates of the costs of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank through 2019 under Senate amendment number 2327, the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015. One estimate is based on procedures currently used in the federal budget as prescribed by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA). The other estimate is based on the market value of the federal government’s obligations, often termed a fair-value estimate.

H.R. 487 would authorize the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to lease, sell, warrant, or otherwise transfer any tribal property that is not held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of the tribe. Based on information provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would have no effect on the federal budget.

Enacting H.R. 487 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. Any receipts from the transfer of the land under the legislation would be paid directly to the tribe.

S. 1705 would authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for intelligence activities of the U.S. government, for the Intelligence Community Management Account (ICMA), and for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System (CIARDS).

S. 1599 would prohibit an employer from discriminating against an employee or other agent of the employer who provides information or assists in an investigation of a violation of federal antitrust law. The legislation also would authorize an individual who alleges discrimination to seek relief. CBO estimates that enacting S. 1599 would increase the number of complaints filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which administers employee protection laws (known as whistleblower programs).

H.R. 158 would make administrative changes to the visa waiver program, under which citizens of certain countries may visit the United States temporarily without a visa, and would require the Department of Homeland Security to prepare several reports to the Congress on national security issues affected by the visa waiver program.

S. 1603 would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with assistance from the Department of Defense (DoD), to establish a program to recruit members of the armed forces who are leaving the military to serve as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. The program would include placing DHS officials at certain recruiting events and conducting outreach efforts to educate certain members of the armed forces about available jobs with CBP. The bill also would require DHS and DoD to report annually to the Congress about the progress of the program.